Learn about tomorrow’s technology today at Digital Construction Week 2018

From AI to robotics, the construction industry is undergoing transformative digital change. The latest developments and technologies will be found at this year’s Digital Construction Week on 17 and 18 October at ExCel London. CM looks at what’s on offer.

Digital technology is increasingly at the forefront of construction minds. With the UK government pushing a spotlight on the industry by launching the Construction Sector Deal in July this year, there is a keen focus on pushing BIM ideologies and digital processes, and utilisation of technology to deliver projects efficiently, safely and on time and budget.

This is not a trend limited to the UK, as governments and developers globally are tasking construction giants and tech providers to push the boundaries. Buildings and infrastructure are becoming more intuitive and resilient than ever before. Technology is changing the way we plan and construct buildings, how we interact with them and how we maintain them.

But how does this high-level government policy and future-facing thinking affect someone working in the built environment today?

This is why Digital Construction Week (DCW) was created. DCW is a trade exhibition and conference that brings together industry innovators, solution providers and influencers. With real-world case studies of best practice and innovation, talks and workshops, it demonstrates how technology is shaping a new path for construction companies, with exhibitors, content, speakers and networking opportunities for all.

Oliver Hughes and Luke Collings, partners and co-directors of DCW, say: “We have worked over multiple years to bring together a unique and esteemed group of innovators that are working directly in the built environment, for government or for tech companies, all of whom are striving to shake up the industry and improve the way we construct by utilising technology and are pushing towards a truly digitised industry.

“We have made the event free to attend and crammed it full of features, talks and solution providers, as we want it to be a ‘not to be missed’ event for the industry. Its purpose is to provide a platform for thought sharing, learning and networking, and to provide visitors the opportunity to interact with some pretty amazing technology.”

DCW will return for its fourth year in 2018 on 17 and 18 October at ExCel London. The exhibition features over 150 hours of seminars and workshops, across multiple stages, focusing on business transformation, visualisation, BIM, geospatial and industry 4.0.

The DCW Expo features over 150 industry-leading companies, such as BAM, Bluebeam, Topcon, PlanGrid, Arup, Kier, Trimble and HP, which will be showcasing their latest technologies and providing the opportunity to get hands-on and test out their products. Expect to see robotics, AR, VR, AI and  machine learning, laser scanning, drones and UAVs, smart materials, collaborative tools and much more.

Esri will be running its “Geospatial Bootcamp” on both days. Free to attend, these crash courses in spatial analysis technology will give users the foundation knowledge needed for mapping and geospatial analysis, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and understand how this tech can be used from the design phase through to operation.

The DCW Onsite Arena, powered by Bluebeam, is an industry event first and will give visitors the opportunity to do a live walk-around of a construction site, set up within the exhibition space. Visitors can check out live demos and get hands-on with drones, robotics, augmented reality and onsite tech.

Returning this year is the Drone Racing. The competition is open to all, and visitors get to have a go flying a mini drone – there’s a Top Gear-style leader board and the winner takes home a trophy at the end of day two. There is also plenty of opportunity to wind down and have a chat, with networking drinks sponsored by Nemetschek held at the end of day one.

New this year is the Business Transformation Hub sponsored by Egnyte, focusing on supporting business to implement technology, to improve internal and external project collaboration, productivity and ultimately profitability.

The Skills Hub, in partnership with CITB, is a workshop and seminar theatre aimed at supporting businesses to upskill and train their current workforce in new technologies and processes, as well as how to attract young people with apprenticeships – often for roles that are very new or even not around yet – due to rapidly changing technologies.

The DCW Thought Leadership Conference

Two days of talks and discussion with industry leaders and tech pioneers focus on the processes that are changing construction.

Running alongside the main free-to-attend exhibition is a pay-to-attend conference, providing two days of talks that will focus on industry transformation and the innovative technologies and processes that are changing the built environment.

With limited tickets sold, and exclusive presentations from BEIS and the Construction Leadership Council focusing on the Construction Sector Deal and Industrial Strategy – the conference is a true snapshot of current industry trends, and a look to the future.

Sessions will explore industry digitisation, manufacturing and through-life performance. 

Recently appointed as challenge director for the £170m UK Research and Innovation Transforming Construction Challenge, Sam Stacey will lead a panel with Dr Diana Montgomery, Dr Jennifer Schooling and Dr Jozef Dobos, discussing how the transforming construction challenge will affect the industry.

Mark Enzer will also discuss the Centre for Digital Built Britain’s (CDBB) long-term strategy in his opening keynote, followed by our exclusive CDBB session where you can hear from and pose questions to CDBB deputy director Alexandra Bolton, Mark Enzer, Jennifer Schooling, David Philp and Amelia Burnett.

An impressive line-up of special guests includes: Dev Amratia of nPlan, Kevin Blankespoor from Boston Dynamics and Sakthy Selvakumaran from the University of Cambridge.